MIDDLETOWN >> In a long line of Irish musicians, Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill are re-imagining the very tradition which they’ve inherited. Known for their electrifying performances, the award-winning Irish fiddler and American guitarist have spent 20 years exploring and expanding the ancient dance tunes. NPR calls the duo “one of the best fiddlers on the planet and a subtle guitar master.”

Cahill and Hayes recently won Ireland’s top music award, the Meteor Choice, with their new ‘supergroup’ The Gloaming, for the group’s 2014 debut CD. The album topped Irish indie charts and landed on many best-of-year lists including NPR, The Guardian, and The Irish Times.

Hayes, a former West Harford resident, is considered by many the pre-eminent Irish fiddler of his generation. He grew up in County Clare learning from his renowned father fiddle-player PJ Hayes, and took home six All-Ireland Fiddle Championships by age 19. Martin’s many awards include Folk Instrumentalist of the Year (BBC), Man of the Year (American Irish Historical Society), Spirit Award (Irish Arts Center NYC), and Musician of the Year (TG4 Gradam Ceol, Ireland).

Cahill is a master guitarist, born in Chicago to parents from the Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry, Ireland. His spare, essential accompaniment to Hayes’ fiddle is acknowledged as a major breakthrough for guitar in the Irish tradition.

The musicians met in the 1980s where they formed Midnight Court, an Irish-fusion-jazz group where they could both test and turn up the volume on the tradition. They returned to the canon later with new ears and appreciation, adding new chords and harmonies, playing legendary concerts with medleys lasting up to 30 minutes in breathtaking form.

“Stripping old reels and jigs to their essence, leaving space between the notes for harmonics and whispered blue notes, Mr. Hayes and Mr. Cahill created a Celtic complement to Steve Reich’s quartets or Miles Davis’s ‘Sketches of Spain’,’’ wrote Ann Powers in the New York Times.

The duo have played for the Obamas at the White House, the EU in Brussels, and for the Irish president and members of the Royal Family at the Royal Albert Hall. They’ve collaborated with artists from jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, to Grammy-winning country star Ricky Skaggs, to the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Their group The Gloaming includes celebrated Irish “sean-nos” singer Iarla O Lionaird (Afro Celt Sound System) and downtown NYC pianist Thomas Bartlett aka Doveman (The National, Antony & the Johnsons, David Byrne). The duo’s fans include Jeremy Irons, whom Martin taught to play an Irish fiddle tune!

“Our allegiance is to the spirit of the moment,” says Hayes. “Our primary wish is that the musical experience be one that lifts our spirits and those of the audience.”